Self-operated internal-combustion heater for heating air



Jan. 28, 1947. H. J. :55 N. Mco u 2,414,830

SELF-OPERATED INTEiNAb-COUBUSTICN HEATER HEATING AIR Filed 00x29, 194s 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 WM, mvwws 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 0 u i? 0 x o o o o o gum m,

H. J. DE N. mcoLLuM Filed Oct. 29, 1943 Jan. 28, 1947.

SELPOPBRATED INTERNAL-CQIBU STION HEATER FOR HEATING AIR SELF-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION HEATER FOR HEATING AIR Filed Oct. 29, 1943 -7 Sheets-SheqtS I! l I Amara Jan. 28, 1947. J, 05 N, MCCOLLUM 2,414,830

SELF-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION HEATER FOR HEATING AIR Filed Oct. 29, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 28, 1947- H. J. DE N. M COLLUM 2,414,830

SELF-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION HEA'i'ER FOR HEATING AIR Filed Oct. 29, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet s mg bw 10.11.28, 1947. H. J. DE N. McCOLLUM 2,414,830

SELF-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION HEATER FOR HEATING AIR Filed Oct, 29, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 J n-28,1941. Y H. 1. DE N. mcoLLuM 2 414,830

SELF-OIERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION HEATER FOR HEATIQG AIR v and is taken in the I Fig. 1;

Patented Jan. 28, 1947 2,414,830 SELF-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION HEATER FOR. HEATING AIR Henry J. DeN. McCollum, Chicago, Ill.; Thelma McCollum,

executrix of a sa id Henry J. DeN.

McCollum,' deceased, assignor to. Stewart- Chicago, 11]., a corpora- Warner Corporation,

tion oi Virginia Application October 29, 1943, Serial a... 508,169

14 Claims. (01. 126-110) My invention relates to self-operated heaters, and more particularly to a self-operated heater of the internal combustion type.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved self-operated heater of the internal combustion type which is-more eflicient than heaters heretofore known.

Another object of my invention is to'provide a new and improved self-operated heater of the internal combustion type which is quieter in operation than the heaters of the prior art.-

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved self-operated heater of the internal combustion type which has relatively few parts, and which is simple to manufacture, install and operate;

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved self-operated heater of the internal combustion type wherein there are provided relatively movable parts which may have relatively loose fits without impairing the operation of the heater.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved self-operated heater of the internal combustion type which is smoother in operation than the heaters heretofore known.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved self-operated heater of the internal combustion type which automatically controls its own rate of operation, and requires no accurate timing mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. l isan irregular vertical section through a preferred embodiment of my invention, and is taken on the irregular line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of my invention taken at right angles to the view of Fig, 1, plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a partial vertical irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial'horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial irregular section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 ma side view of a portion of the rotor, and is taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. '7 is a top view of the rotor structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, with the addition of a diagramsection taken on the matic representation of the electrical connections;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the irregular line 9-9 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the rotor buckets indicating the helical path travelled by the exhaust gases.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3,. it will be seen that I have illustrated my invention as being embodied in a form comprising a base 20 formed of a pair of castings 22 and 24 secured to each other by bolts 26, or in any other suitable manner. The castings 22 and 24 have pedestals 28 and 30, respectively, and these pedestals support ball bearings 32 and 34, respectively. A hollow shaft 36 is journaledin the bearing 32 and is attached by studs 38 to the side plate 40 of a rotary heat exchanger indicated" generally by reference character 42. This rotor includes a second sldeplate 44 secured to one end of a solid shaft 46 journaled in the ball bearing 34.

The side plates 40 and 44 of the rotor consti tute headers to which are aflixed the ends of ventilating air tubes 48, which are spaced slightly from each other to provide openings therebetween for the flow of hot gases in a manner hereinafter described. The multiplicity of ventilating air tubes 48 forms a ring surrounding a central chamber duction passage 52 provided ,by the hollow shaft 36. The rims of the rotor plates 40 and 44 are attached to a ring 54 by means of screws 56.

A plate 58 is attached to the upper end of pedestal 28 and supports a carburetor 60 having a float bowl 62 supplied with fuel from any suitable source. This float bowl communicates with a jet 64 located in the carburetor air inlet 66, and the amount of fuel delivered by the jet 64 may be manually-regulated by a needle 'valve 68. A screen 10 attached to the carburetor air inlet prevents dirt or other impurities from en tering this inlet.

A valve. 12 is urged towards its seat 14 by a light spring 16. This valve controls communication between the jet .64 and inlet 66, and the passage 18 communicating with the passage 52 in the tubular shaft 36; in other words, this valve controls the communication between the carburetor and the interior of the rotor. This valve is open to admit a combustible mixture of fuel and air to the rotor by suction created by rotation of this otor either in the normal operation of the heater or by manually rotating the rotor to start I the heater.

1 with four nozzles The ring 54 of the rotor constitutes one element of a reaction-type turbine an is provided spaced circumferentiallv 50 communicating with the inv the pocket at the adjacent pockets 04 by an offset wall 92,

'tially, as clearly shown in I cular notches I cape of combustion gases therebetween.

it is not necessary gether. In

preciable space I I8 existing between the opposing ring 54,

locate the rotor with minute center of the stator, and the permissible tolerattached to around this ring, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each nozzle 80 is located at one-side of a small reversing pocket 82 formed in the-ring 54. This ring is also provided with a plurality of larger reverisng pockets 84 arranged in four series, each series having one end adjacent a nozzle 60, and other end of the series communicates with a lateral outlet 06, best shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the pockets 82 has a curved or reversing wall 88 located at an angle with respect to the axis of the ring 54. Each of the larger reversing pockets 84 is alsoprovided with a curved wall or reversing surface 00, likewise located at an angle with respect to the axis of the nozzle ring 54. The pockets 82 are separated from the. and the pockets 04 are separated from each other by similar ofiset walls 94.

tached thereto The nozzle ring 54 is located inside of a stator ring 96containing buckets 08 having curved reversing walls I00 and separated by lips I02. These reversing buckets are arranged tangen- Fig. 2, but lie in planes parallel to the axis of the stator ring 66. The lips I02 are preferably provided with semi-cir- 04, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The stator ring 96 is securedby screws I06 to the sheet metal sections I08 and nular housing indicated generally by reference character II2 which is secured to the base 20 by bolts 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Portions of this housing remote from the base 20 are secured together by bolts H4, and a suitable sealing gasket H6 is preferably clamped between adjacent edges of the sections I08 and III) to prevent e smy invention liesin the fact that for the nozzle ring 54 of the rotor and'the stator ring 96 to fit closely to- Fig. 4 there is clearly shown an ap- A feature of the stator ring 96 and rotor or rotor and the presence ofthis space does not impair the eiiiciency of my heater. Because of the presence of this space, it is not necessary to precision at the exact surfaces of ance materially reduces the cost of and assembly.

The combustible mixture drawn into the interior of the rotor is ignited by a pair of spark plugs I20 and I22 screwed into suitable bushings the rotor side plate 44. These spark plugs are supplied with current by a generator indicated generally by reference character I24. and shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 8. This generator includes an outer ring I26 having arms I21 secured to the rotor sideplate-44 byscrews manufacture -I28, or inany other suitable manner. This ring I26 has inwardly-projecting iron cores I30 surrounded by wire coils I32. In the particular embodiment shown, the ring I26-'supports four coils I32, although any other suitable number may be provided as desired. I

The four coils I32 are connected in series by wires I34, I36 and I38. Each of the and coils "of this series is connected to a terminal I40 insulated from the ring I26 by an Insulating block I42. One terminal I40 is connected by a wire I44 to the spark plug I20, and the other terminal I40 is connected by a wire I46 to the spark plug I22. These spark plugs are in electrical communication with each other through the ring III) of an an-' blower wheel I64 enters a tapered 0 tached thereto by a I90 so that rotation of the drum I68 causes ro- I do ly to start the heater.

6 needle valve of the I52 secured by screws I54 to the upper end of the pedestal 30, and, a semi-circular cover I56 atby bolts I58. The armature I48 is illustrated as having four poles, but any number of poles may be provided, it being desirable, however, to provide as many poles for the armature as there are coils I32.

The exhaust gases discharged from the reversing chambers through the lateral outlets 86' pass into a tapered annular exhaust passage I60 communicating with an exhaust pipe I62 through which the to atmosphere. The exhaust passage I60 has portions on both sides of the nozzle ring 54 and stationary ring 96, and also a portion surrounding the latter ring. This arrangement permits any exhaust gases which flow in either direction through the space II8 between these rings to enter the exhaust passage and be discharged through the exhaust pipe I62. I

The wheel I64 of a blower I66 is attached to the rotary heat exchanger and rotates therewith. This wheel is enclosed in a sheet metal casing I68 (see Fifs. 1 and 9) composed of two sections I10 and I12 clamped together by bolts I14 and withan intervening washer I16 to prevent escape of air the'rebetween. The section I10 (See Fig. 3) is in the form of a ring secured by screws I'IB to the section IIO of the housing II2.v A guide ring I00 is attached by screws to the rotor side plate 40 and serves to direct rior of the blower wheel I64 heated air leaving the right-hand ends of the tubes 48 of the rotor. This guide ring I80. constitutes a support and driving means for the blower wheel I64. Air passing outwardly through the vanes I82 of the annular pas- 3) communicating with a pipe I86 to its point sage I84 (Fig. through which the heated air passes of application.

The solid shaft 46 has a drum I88 (Fig. 3) atstud I90 which is accessible through an opening whereby this drum may removed from the end of has a keyway I94 receiving be'readily applied to or the end of the stud tatlon of this shaft and the several assemblies attached thereto. This drum is used for starting purposes and a rope may be wrappedabout this drum and the free end of the rope pulled strong- It will be understood, however, that any other suitable starting mechanism may be used in lieu of this drum .and the pull-rope.

When it is desired to start the heater, the carburetor is unscrewed to from the carburetor float bowl A rope is wrapped about the pull exerted thereon to permit fuel to flow 62 to the jet 64. drum I80 and a strong rotate'the axle 46 and parts connected thereto.

Rotation of this axle rotates the rotary heat "and induces a exchanger 42, the generator ring I26 with its coils I32, and the blower wheel I64. Rotation of the heat exchanger creates a suction in the interior thereof, which raises carburetor air valve flow of. air through the carexhaust gases are discharged into the inte- I92 provided in the drum the shaft. The shaft thereof.

, buretor and into the interior of the heat exchanger. This air mixes with fuel supplied by the Jet 64 to form a combustible mixture which is ignited by the spark plugs I20 and I22 as soon as this mixture completely fills the interior of the rotary heat exchanger.

The resulting explosion closes carburetor value I2 and creates a. pressure which forces the burned gases through the nozzles 80 in the form of jets of burned gases. These jets or streams of burned gases enter the pockets 98 of the stator ring 96 creating a reaction which tends to rotate the heat exchanger. The pockets 98 reverse the flow of the burned gases and cause the streams of these gases to enter reversing chambers 84 which are adjacent the nozzles 80011 the rotor. Impingement of the streams of burned gases upon the curved walls of the reversing chambers 84 exerts an additional force tending to rotate the heat exchanger. The reversing chambers 84'reverse the streams of burned gases and re-direct them into succeeding pockets or reversing chambers in the stator ring .96. This is repeated until the burned gases flow through the outlets 86 into the discharge manifold or passage I60.

Fig. represents somewhat diagrammatically the helix-like fiow of the burned gases leaving the nozzles and passing successively through alternate reversing chambers orpockets formed in the stator ring 96 and rotor ring 54. Each time a gas stream impinges upon the stator ring a reaction ls created whichtends to rotate the heat exchanger, and each time a stream impinges upon the rotor ring 54 of this heat exchanger an additional force is created tending to cause rotation The repeated 'reversals of the gas streams create repeated impingements which utilize the full energy of the streams to create maximum turning effort on the rotary heat ex changer.

After the pressure created in the interior of the heat exchanger by an explosion has been dissipated by a flow of burned gases through the nozzles in the manner heretofore described, continued rotation of the heat exchanger creates a suction therein which draws a fresh charge of combustible mixture into the interior of the rotor. As soon as this fresh mixture reaches the spark plugs I20 and I22, it likewise is ignited, and the cycle of operation is repeated.

Where the alternator which supplies these spark plugs is provided with a multiplicity of coils, these spark plugs create a spark several imes for each rotation of the heat exchanger, Whereas, successive explosions occur at longer intervals such as, for example, every two complete rotations. It is advantageous-to have frequent sparking at the spark plugs to eliminate the need for any close timing between the creation of these sparks and the introduction of a fresh charge of combustible mixture into the interior of the heat exchanger.

These successive explosions in the interior of the rotor or rotary heat exchanger give on heat, and a part of this heat is absorbed by the tubes 48 which transmit this heat to the air drawn through these tubes by the rotation of the blower wheel I64. This blower wheel is attached to the rotary heat exchanger by an annular attaching plate I80 and rotates therewith. The centrifugal blower discharges the heated air into a pipe I 86 which may lead to any point of application for this air.

My new and-improved self-operating heater is particularly adapted for use around airports to supply hot airfor heating aircraft engines, and other similar purposes. A particular advantage of my invention in this regard lies in that fact that it requires no separate internal combustion 5 engine for its operation, and thuseliminates the service dimculties which are commonly encountered with small engines of this kind. The several parts of my heater are of simple construction and subjected to littlewear, so that my heat- 10 er can operate almost indefinitely with little or no attention.

While I have described my invention as being particularly adapted for use around airports, it is not limited .to such use, =but-is capable of general application. It is also to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular details shown and described, but may assume numerous other forms, and that my invention includes all modifications, variations and equivalents coming within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A self-operated internal combustion type heater of the class described, comprisin a rotary heat exchanger incorporating a combustion chamber, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said chamber, means for igniting said :mixture, a nozzle through which combustion gases are discharged from said chamber, a stationary member against which said discharged gases impinge for rotating the heat exchanger, means driven by said heat exchanger for creating a flow of air through said heat exchanger in out-of-contact heat exchange relation to said combustion gases, and means confining and conducting the heated air for delivery to a space to be heated.

2. A self-operated internal combustion type heater of the class described, comprising a rotary heat exchanger. incorporating a combustion chamber, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said chamberfmeans for igniting said mixture, a nozzle through which combustion gases are discharged from said chamber, a stationary member against which said discharged gases react to rotate the combustion chamber, means driven by said heat exchanger for creating a flow of air through said heat exchanger in out-of-contact heat exchange relation to said combustion gases, and means confining and conducting the heated air for delivery to a space to be heated.

3. A self-operated internal combustion type heater comprising a rotary heat exchanger which includes a shaft journalled for rotation, means forming a combustion chamber, said means comprising a pair of spaced side plates carried by the shaft enclosing a central space and an annular space around said central space and a ring connecting said platesaroundthe annular space, a portion of said shaft being hollow, a carburetor positioned to supply combustible mixture to said central and annular spaces through the hollow shaft, means to ignite said mixture, said ring having a nozzle for discharging the products of combustion, a stator ring against which the discharged gases react to rotate the combustion chamber means, a plurality of tubes extending a suction fan at one side of said combustion chamber rotatable therewith, each of said tubes being open to the atmosphere at one end and openingat its opposite end into the inlet of the fan, whereby said fan draws air through said tubes to be heated by the products of combustion in out-of-contact relation thereto, and conduit includes a shaft iournalled for to rotate the combustion chamber means,

slt'e end into the inlet of the fan,

means arranged to convey the heated air from said fan to a space to be heated.

4. A self-operated internal combustion type heater comprising a rotary heat exchanger which rotation, means forming a combustion chamber, said means comprising a, pair of .spaced side plates carried by the haft enclosing an annular space and a ring connecting said plates around the annular space,

-a .carburetor positioned to supply combustible mixture to said annular space, means to ignite' psaid mixture, said ring having a nozzle for discharging the products of combustion, a stator ring against whichthe discharged gases react a plurality of tubes extending across the annular space with their ends fixedin said side plates. 2. suetion fan at one side of said combustion chamber rotatable therewith, each of said tubes being open to the atmosphere at one end and opening at its opposite end, into the inlet of the fan, whereby said fan draws air through said tubes to be heated by the products of combustion in out-of-contact relation thereto, and conduit means arranged to convey the heatedair from said fan to a space to be heated.

5. A self-operated internal combustion type heater comprising a rotary heat exchanger which includes a, shaft journalled for rotation, means forming a combustion chamber, said means comprising a pair of spaced side plates carriedby the shaft enclosing an annular space and a ring connecting said plates around the annular space,

a carburetor positioned to supply combustible mixture to said annular space, means to ignite said mixture, said ring having a nozzle for discharging the products of combustion, a stator ring against which the discharged gases react to rotate the combustion'chamber means, a plurality of tubes extending across the annular space with their ends fixed in said side plates, a contrifugal blower anda casing therefor, said casing being attached to the stator ring and the blower wheel having a central inlet connected in air-tight relation to one side plate of the comend and opening at its opposite end into said inlet of the blower wheel whereby the blower draws air through said tubes to be heated by the products of combustion in out-of-contact relation thereto, and conduit means connected to the blower casing to convey the heated air from the blower to a space to be heated.

6. A self-operated internal combustion type heater comprising rotary heat exchanger which includes a shaft iournalled for rotation, means forming a combustion chamber, said means comprising a pair of spaced side plates carried-by the shaft enclosing an annular space and a ring con necting said plates around the annular space, a carburetor positioned to supply combustible mixture to said annular space, with a spring-loaded carburetor and said space, means to ignite said mixture, said ring having a nozzle for discharging the products of combustion, a stator ring against which the discharged gases react to rotate the combustion chamber means, a plurality of tubes extending across the annular space with their ends fixed in said side plates, a suction fan at one side of said combustion chamber rotatable atmosphere at one end and opening at its oppowhereby said .bustion chamber for rotation therewith, each of v said tubes being open to the atmosphere at one valve controlling communication between said therewith, each of said tubes being open to the supply a combustible mixture of'fuel and s fan draws air through said tubes to be heated by the products of combustion in out-of-contact relation 'thereto, and conduit means arranged to convey the heated air from said fan to'a space to be heated. I

'7. A self-operated internal combustion type heatercomprising a rotary heat exchanger which includes a. shaft jbumalled for rotation, means forming a combustion chamber, said means comprising a pair of spaced side platescarried by the shaft enclosing an annular space and a ring connecting said plates around the annular space, a carburetor positioned to supply combustible mixture to said annular space, electrical ignition means in the combustion chamber and a generator therefor driven by the rotation of said combustion chamber means, said ring having a nozzle for discharging the products of combustion, a stator ring against which the discharged gases react to rotate the combustion chamber means, a plurality of tubes extending across the annular space with their ends fixed in said side plates, a suction fan at one side of said combustion chamber rotatable therewith, each of said tubes being open to the atmosphere at one end and opening at its opposite end into the inlet of the fan, whereby said fan draws air through said tubes to be heated by the products of combustio'n in out-of-contact relation thereto, and conduit means arranged to convey the heated air from said fan to a space to be heated.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, a collector for products of combustion and a blower housing carried by said support, a rotary assembly comprising a combustion chamber casing surrounded by said collector, means including a check valve for supplying a combustible mixture of fuel and air to the combustion chamber in said casing, of reaction nozzles carried by said combustion chamber casing for the discharge of the products of combustion therefrom into said collector, heat exchange means providing passageways extending through said combustion chamber and into the space within said blower housing, means including a blower impeller in said housing rotatoperating substantially continuously to ignite the combustible mixture in said combustion chamber.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, in which said electrical ignition means comprises a high tension alternator having one part thereof'stationary with respect to said support and the other part thereof connected for rotation with said combustion chamber casing.

10. The combination set forth in claim' 8, in which said electrical ignition means comprises a spark plug, and an electrical generator driven by said rotary combustion chamber casing for supplying electrical energy to said spark plug.

11. The combination set forth in claim 8, in which said collector provides an involute passageway for the discharge 'of products of combustion from said reaction nozzles, and said housing provides an involute passageway for the discharge of heated ventilating air.

12. In a heater comprising means providing a combustion chamber having reaction nozzles and forming the rotor of a reaction turbine, means to air in said combustion chamber, electrical ignition a plurality having an impeller driven by the reaction turbine rotor and operable to cause flow of ventilating air past the combustion chamber to a space to be supplied with heated air, means providing the combustion chamber with a sufflciently efiective heat transfer surface area, relative to the heat produced by th combustion of the fuel and air in the combustion chamber, to cause the i transfer to the ventilating air'of the major part of the heat produced by the combustion, and an electrical generator driven by said rotor and connected to said ignition means for supplying en ergizing current thereto.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12, in which said rotor, said impeller, and the driven part of said electrical generator are secured together, and in which common bearings are provided for said last named elements.

' means and having suflicient area and heat trans- I 14. In aheater comprising means providing a combustion chamber having reaction nozzles and forming the rotor of a reaction turbine, means to supply a combustible mixture of fuel and air to said combustion-chamber, electrical ignition means in the combustion chamber located remotely from the point at which the fuel and air are supplied thereto, means including a blower having an impeller driven by the reaction turbine rotor and operable to cause flow of ventilating air past the combustion chamber to a space to be supplied withheated air, and heat exchange means. attached to the combustion chamber fer effectiveness relative to the heat produced by the combustion of the fuel and air in the combustion chamber to cause the transfer to the ventilating air of the major part duced by the combustion.

= IHENRY J. DsN. MccoLLuM of the heat pro- 

